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As the biggest tech companies in the world engage in a worldwide AI talent grab, the pace of startup acquisition in the areas of machine learning and AI remains high, following a bumper 2016.

A total of 34 artificial intelligence startups were acquired in the first quarter of 2017, more than twice the amount of activity in the same quarter last year, according to the research firm CB Insights.

So here are the biggest AI startup acquisitions of the year so far, from Google to Spotify.

1. Facebook acquires Ozlo

Facebook acquired the small Palo Alto-based artificial intelligence startup Ozlo at the end of July, for an undisclosed amount.

Facebook hopes to use the startup's natural language processing expertise to build out a text-based virtual assistant within its popular Messenger product.

2. Google acquires Kaggle and Halli Labs

Google has acquired the most AI startups since 2012 with 11, and it isn't slowing down this year, buying popular data science platform Kaggle in March, and Bangalore-based AI startup Halli Labs in July.

Kaggle is a hugely popular platform for the data science community to discuss problems, best practice and take part in challenges, some of which are posted by large corporations and come with seven figure prize money. It'll be access to this community of talent that Google will look to leverage.

Less is known about Halli Labs except it says it is working on deep learning and machine learning systems to address what it describes as "old problems".

3. Google acquires AIMatter

Google continued its AI acquisition run in August when it purchased the computer vision specialist startup AIMatter.

The Belarusian startup built its own neural network-based AI platform and SDK to detect and process images quickly on mobile devices and used the selfie editing app Fabby as a proof-of-concept for the technology.

TechCrunch reports that AIMatter will continue to run Fabby, but the team will be relocated within Google. The terms of the deal were not disclosed.

4. Microsoft acquires Maluuba

In a blog post, Microsoft hailed the company for having one of "the world's most impressive deep learning research labs for natural language understanding".

5. Apple acquires Realface

Apple is generally tight lipped when it comes to acquisitions, but the Cupertino-based company reportedly acquired Israeli startup RealFace in February.

The small startup specialises in facial recognition technology, and the assumption is that Apple will look to use that expertise to allow iPhone users to unlock their device through the front-facing camera.

6. Apple acquires Lattice

The iPhone-maker also acquired Californian startup Lattice.io for between $175-$200 million (£132-151 million) in May. The startup specialises in making "dark data" machine readable and usable, primarily through machine learning techniques.

Apple doesn't comment on its plans for a startup post-acquisition and the application of this technology isn't immediately clear, but the price tag is significant enough to suggest Apple has big plans for the team and technology.

8. Spotify acquires Niland

The music streaming giant Spotify has built many of its most popular features, including recommendations and personalise playlists, on machine learning. In May 2017 Spotify acquired Paris-based machine learning startup Niland.

The Swedish company issued a press release at the time which stated: "Niland has changed the game for how AI technology can optimise music search and recommendation capabilities and shares Spotify’s passion for surfacing the right content to the right user at the right time."

9. Splunk acquires SignalSense

Splunk, the vendor which specialises in indexing machine data for IT and security operations staff, acquired SignalSense in October 2017.

The Seattle-based startup has made its name by leveraging machine learning technology for cloud-based data collection and breach detection.

This very neatly lines up with Splunk's current strategy to make machine data more easily discoverable for enterprise customers, and to use machine learning for predictive analytics and advanced anomaly and threat detection.

The SignalSense team will move into Splunk's Seattle office to work within the products department led by chief product officer Richard Campione. The chief engineering officer at SignalSense Brad Lovering is an ex-Splunk employee.